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Princess Mononoke Re-Release China Box Office: Beats Thunderbolts* (Photo Credit –YouTube)

Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke is still iconic, and this has been proven as it beats Thunderbolts* in China. The film was re-released in the mainland and outgrossed the three-day opening weekend collection of the MCU movie despite being an old movie. Hayao Miyazaki’s movies always have a special place in people’s hearts owing to their emotional depths and striking visuals. Scroll below for more.

The Japanese anime movie was released in 1997 and was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The voice cast comprised of Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori, and Hisaya Morishige. The English voice cast featured Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, and Billy Crudup. It has outstanding ratings on Rotten Tomatoes – the critics gave it 93% while the audience gave it 94%.

The critics’ consensus on the aggregate site stated,...

Princess Mononoke North America Re-Release Box Office: IMAX Version Earns Winning Numbers In A Day (Photo Credit – Netflix)

Ghibli Studio is one of the most popular production studios in Japan, known for its amazing animations. The 1997 classic Princess Mononoke’s remastered version has been re-released in the United States exclusively in IMAX theatres. The film has earned more than films like Captain America: Brave New World and Mickey 17. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The animated feature was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The fantasy film was set in the Muromachi period of Japanese history and follows a young Emishi prince who journeys west to cure his cursed arm and becomes embroiled in the conflict between Irontown and the forest of the gods. There is also a feud between Lady Eboshi and a human girl raised by wolves named San. The animation was produced by Toshio Suzuki and animated by Studio Ghibli.

The stories created by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli tend to include layers of themes, issues and concerns, with the characters doing more than navigating their particular plots, but also encouraging viewers to act a certain way. While these films tend to weave multiple messages into a single story, the concept of pacifism continually appears. The desire Miyazaki has for his audience to reflect on the values of peace, empathy and coexistence manifests in his storytelling, with this strong wish peppered throughout many of his works.

Through their stories, characters and settings, Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki advocate for understanding, harmony with nature and rejecting violence as a means of resolving conflict. From Princess Mononoke’s urging to see with eyes unclouded by hate to Spirited Away’s Chihiro navigating through the strange spirit world with courage and compassion, Miyazaki’s pacifistic ideals pepper through many of his well-loved and well-known films.

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Seeing is believe, but fantasy films are a special genre that will push your imagination to the limit and maybe even open up a part of your mind that you didn’t know existed. The good thing about fantasy movies is that they typically have a deeper subtext that will give you a deeper appreciation for life, and film.

For those who love streaming a variety of movies, signing up for streaming platforms is the easiest way to get access to tons of titles from plenty of different genres. If you’re not already signed up for at least one of the major platforms, it’s quick and easy to join, and you...

A pastel-color explosion of J-pop-rock has landed in a purple Lamborghini on Udine in the form of “Jk Rock” a film by director Muguruma Shunji, based on an original script by Kaori Tanimoto, about a trio of school girls determined to rock their world and rescue an imploded boy band.

“Jk Rock” screened at Udine Far East Film Festival

The popular rock band The JoKes has gone through tough times after the dark and fascinating front man Jyo Koduki (Ryosuke Yamamoto) has left the band, looking for fame in the States. Handsome Jyo Kaieda (Shodai Fukuyama) is left behind pondering about his talent and the reasons why the producer didn’t chose him. He is in fact back to “normal” life and university duty, but his posh girlfriend and purple Lamborghini cannot cure his troubled heart. The two other former Jokers (Ryota Kobayashi and Kaito Kumagai) are in a suspended limbo,...

Director Yoji Yamada has finished production on the third film in his series “What a Wonderful Family”. The third film features returning cast from the previous productions focusing on the tribulations of the married couple in Fumie, played by Yui Natsukawa (“Zatochi” ‘Shikoku”), and Konosuke, played by Masahiko Nishimura (“Zen” “Space Brothers”).

The film was released in Japan on May 25th, 2018 and is awaiting an international release, a trailer for the film has been released.

Synopsis

At the Hirata home, three generations of their family live together. A crisis ensues when one afternoon, housewife Fumie (Yui Natsukawa) falls asleep and wakes up to find a thief has stolen her secret money she kept hidden in the refrigerator. She saved the money steadily over time. Her husband Konosuke (Masahiko Nishimura) incredulously asks “You saved up money from my earnings?” Fumie becomes upset and leaves the house. The whole family soon falls...

Exclusive: Japanese studio Shochiku is launching sales on two new projects from leading director Yoji Yamada – a drama based on a Hisashi Inoue story and the director’s first comedy since the end of the Tora-san series in 1995.

The drama, Haha To Kuraseba (literal translation: Living With My Mother) is currently in production with Sayuri Yoshinaga (Kabei: Our Mother) and Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters From Iwo Jima) heading the cast.

The story follows a midwife in Nagasaki who is stunned when she is visited by her son who she thought had died three years earlier when an atomic bomb fell on the city. Japanese release is tentatively scheduled for Winter 2015.

Currently in post-production, the comedy Kazoku Wa Tsuraiyo! stars most of the cast from Yamada’s Tokyo Family, including Isao Hashizume, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Masahiko Nishimura and Yui Natsukawa.

The story follows an older couple who decide to divorce after 50 years of marriage, and the efforts...

An A-list roster of voice talent has been assembled for the English-language version of Studio Ghibli's The Wind Rises, which opens in select North American theaters on Feb. 21, 2014, expanding wide on Feb. 28, 2014. The film marks director Hayao Miyazaki's final feature, as the legendary animation veteran announced his retirement in September 2013.

In The Wind Rises, Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted and unable to be a pilot, he becomes one of the world's most accomplished airplane designers, experiencing key historical events in an epic tale of love, perseverance and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world. The voice cast of the English-language version follows.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Don Jon, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) lends his voice to Jiro Horikoshi, who harbors strong ambitions to create his own beautiful airplane. A bubbling mix of wild excitement,...

Watch the latest trailer for The Win Rises directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The animated adventure features the voices of Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Masahiko Nishimura, Stephen Alpert, Morio Kazama, Keiko Takeshita and Mirai Shida. Toshio Suzuki produces, and the Touchstone Pictures release from Studio Ghibli opens in limited theaters on February 21st, 2014 and expands the week after that. In The Wind Rises, Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted from a young age and unable to be a pilot, Jiro joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the world’s most innovative and accomplished airplane designers. The film chronicles much of his life, depicting key historical events, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923...

Having recently wrapped an Oscar-qualifying run in New York and La, the first Us trailer has now debuted for Hayao Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises, which the legendary filmmaker has said will be his final film as a director.

The latest in a long line of hugely popular Studio Ghibli movies, The Wind Rises opened in Japan over the summer, and is set to open wide in the States early next year. The studio is maintaining its relationship with Disney, who are handling its distribution in North America under the Touchstone Pictures banner, and will no doubt be giving it a big push for the Oscars.

This new trailer, launched via Deadline, is the first domestic trailer for its stateside release, following the subtitled Japanese trailer that landed over the summer.

This decade-spanning epic from maestro Hayao Miyazaki is his most unique films to date, inspired by the true stories of Jiro Horikoshi,...

After the first international trailer was released in August, Touchstone Pictures announced that it will distribute director Hayao Miyazaki's final movie The Wind Rises in U.S. theaters on February 21, 2014. Today, the studio has unveiled the first domestic trailer for this animated feature, which follows a young man named Jiro, who dreams of becoming a pilot before learning that he is nearsighted. He turns his passion for the sky into a career as an aeronautical engineer for a Japanese company in 1927.

The Wind Rises comes to theaters February 21st, 2014 and stars Hideaki Anno, Jun Kunimura, Mirai Shida, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto, Masahiko Nishimura, Keiko Takeshita, Mansai Nomura. The film is directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Touchstone Pictures has released the first theatrical poster for The Wind Rises, director Hayao Miyazaki's final animated feature. The story follows Jiro, a young man who always dreamed of being a pilot before learning that he is nearsighted. He turns his passion for the sky into becoming an engineer for a major Japanese company in 1927. We reported in September that Touchstone is releasing the film in domestic theaters next February.

In The Wind Rises, Jiro-inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni-dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes. Nearsighted from a young age and thus unable to become a pilot, Jiro joins the aircraft division of a major Japanese engineering company in 1927. His genius is soon recognized, and he grows to become one of the world's most accomplished airplane designers. The film chronicles much of his life, and depicts key historical events that deeply affected the course of Jiro's life,...

London – Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises will open the inaugural Ajyal Youth Film Festival, mounted by the Doha Film Institute in Qatar. The gala opening will mark the Middle Eastern and North African premiere for the anime film. Starring Japanese animator and film director Hideaki Anno, Japanese actress and former musical performer Miori Takimoto, actor Hidetoshi Nishijima and theatre and film actor Masahiko Nishimura, The Wind Rises depicts the story of a young boy living in a provincial town. Review: The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu) When he wakes up to a dream about flying like an airplane from the top

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The Walt Disney Studios and Studio Ghibli revealed North American release plans for The Wind Rises a Studio Ghibli film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Ponyo), at the North American premiere of the film today at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is slated for limited release in North American theaters on Feb. 21, 2014, and expanded release on Feb. 28, 2014, under the Touchstone Pictures banner. The Wind Rises will also open for Academy Award qualification engagements in New York and Los Angeles Nov. 8-14, 2013, showcasing the original film in Japanese with English subtitles.

In The Wind Rises, Jiro-inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni-dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes. Nearsighted from a young age and thus unable to become a pilot, Jiro joins the aircraft division of a major Japanese engineering company in 1927. His genius is soon recognized, and he grows to become...

During a press conference at the Venice Film Festival yesterday, Studio Ghibli announced that acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki will "retire from the production of feature-length films." However, the announcement doesn't rule out the possibility of the filmmaker directing short films for the studio.

His final movie, The Wind Rises, has been playing in Japanese theaters since mid-July, but it doesn't have a U.S. release date set. The animated film is based on the life of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed Japanese fighter planes during World War II. It is currently playing in competition at the Venice Film Festival, which runs through September 10.

Hayao Miyazaki formed Studio Ghibli in 1984 with fellow filmmaker Isao Takahata, where he directed critically-acclaimed classics such as Nausicca of the Valley Wind, Lapuata: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo and The Wind Rises.

The Toronto International Film Festival® has announced the addition of 3 Galas and 19 Special Presentations to the 2013 Festival programme, including a further 12 World Premieres. Representing countries from around the world, the Gala and Special Presentations programmes offer a lineup of diverse titles and genres.

Toronto audiences will be among the first to screen films by directors Fred Schepisi, Alberto Arvelo, Reha Erdem, Dexter Fletcher, Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Megan Griffiths, Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu, Kevin Macdonald, Arie Posin, Charlie Stratton, Nils Tavernier and John Turturro.

The 38th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5 to 15, 2013.

Galas Blood Ties

Guillaume Canet, France/USA North American Premiere

New York, 1974. 50-year-old Chris has just been released on good behavior after spending several years in prison. Waiting for him reluctantly outside the prison gates is his younger brother, Frank, a cop with a bright future. Chris and Frank have always been different, yet blood...

Director Hayao Miyazaki returns with his latest animated film The Wind Rises, making its world premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival. An international trailer has arrived for this sprawling film that unfolds over a decade, depicting the true story of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the Japanese fighter planes in World War II. It isn't known when The Wind Rises will be released in the United States, so stay tuned.

The Wind Rises comes to theaters in 2013 and stars Hideaki Anno, Mirai Shida, Jun Kunimura, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto, Steve Alpert, Mansai Nomura, Masahiko Nishimura. The film is directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Released in Japanese cinemas last month, Hayao Miyazaki’s anticipated The Wind Rises (a.k.a. Kaze Tachinu / 風立ちぬ) is about to get its international debut on the festival circuit in Venice and then Toronto.

Ahead of its appearance out at Tiff, the festival has launched an official subtitled version of the trailer for the latest from the acclaimed animation house, Studio Ghibli.

This decade-spanning epic from maestro Hayao Miyazaki is his most unique films to date, inspired by the true stories of Jiro Horikoshi, visionary designer of one the most beautiful airplanes in history — the famed Zero fighter — and the poet Tatsuo Hori, whose verses are brought to life by the vivid animation of Studio Ghibli.

Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Masahiko Nishimura, Jun Kunimura, Shinobu Otake, and Mansai Nomura lead the voice cast, with the American-English dubbed cast yet to be announced.

Miyazaki is directing from his own script,...

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo), the Wind Rises features voices of Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Steven Alpert, Morio Kazama, Keiko Takeshita, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Mirai Shida, Mansai Nomura and Masahiko Nishimura. The film will screen as part of the Toronto International Film Festival. This decade-spanning epic from maestro Hayao Miyazaki is his most unique films to date, inspired by the true stories of Jiro Horikoshi, visionary designer of one the most beautiful airplanes in history — the famed Zero fighter — and the poet Tatsuo Hori, whose verses are brought to life by the vivid animation of Studio Ghibli.

Earlier today, the Toronto International Film Festival announced additions to their Galas and Special Presentations programs. Among the films with new images and synopses are: Words and Pictures (Directed by Fred Schepisi) Starring Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche. A Promise (Directed by Patrice Leconte) Starring Rebecca Hall, Alan Rickman, and Richard Madden. Child of God (Directed by James Franco) Starring James Franco, Scott Haze, Tim Blake Nelson, and Jim Parrack. The Wind Rises (Directed by Hayao Miyazaki) Featuring the voices of Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Masahiko Nishimura, Jun Kunimura, Shinobu Otake, and Mansai Nomura. Hit the jump to check out the images and synopses. The 2013 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 5 – 15th. Via Tiff. Words and Pictures A writer (Clive Owen) whose talent has dried up and an artist (Juliette Binoche) struggling to paint, clash at the school where they teach, sparking both an unlikely romance and...

Though a Us release date has yet to be decided upon, Japan needn’t wait too much longer for Hayao Miyazaki’s long-awaited return to the directing chair with The Wind Rises, as the Studio Ghibli film is due out there in under one month’s time (July 20th). History tells us it won’t come stateside until about a year from now, which makes this initial teaser for the film such a pleasant sight.

Short as it is, the images have a sort of poetry to them that you only get with a Miyzaki-directed film. It isn’t enough that he simply script a film, although it never hurts. Where Miyazaki does best is behind the reigns. Compare his last directorial effort, Ponyo, to its immediate successor in the Studio Ghibli canon, The Secret World of Arriety, whose script was contributed by the team of Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa,...

Studio Ghibli's upcoming animated movie explores the life of World War II Zero fighter plane designer Jirō Horikoshi, and is scheduled to open in Japan on July 20th, Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo), the Wind Rises features voices of Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Steven Alpert, Morio Kazama, Keiko Takeshita, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Mirai Shida, Mansai Nomura and Masahiko Nishimura. At this time, no Us release or English voice cast have been announced.

Last May, the film Railways was released in Japan and got unprecedented support from men in their 40s and 50s, unexpectedly attracting over 500,000 people to theaters. Today it was announced that Tomokazu Miura will star in Railways 2.

In the original work, Kiichi Nakai starred as a 49-year-old electronics company executive in Shimane Prefecture who suddenly quits his job to follow through on his childhood dream of becoming a train driver. Coincidentally, Miura’s son Takahiro Miura made his debut in that film.

In the sequel, Miura will play Toru Takishima, a man who has spent 42 years working as a train driver for Toyama Chiho Railway and is now 1 month away from the age of retirement. However, he and his wife of many years, Sawako (Kimiko Yo), reach a crossroads after a re-examination of a previously benign tumor changes her outlook on life. Miura and Yo previously played a married couple...

Director Yoji Yamada originally planned to begin principal photography of Tokyo Kazoku, an homage to Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Story, on the first of this month. However, the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami which occurred on March 11 caused Shochiku to halt the production and has forced Yamada to seriously consider altering the script to reflect post-3/11 Japan.

After planning the project for over a year and assembling a cast which includes Bunta Sugawara, Etsuko Ichihara, Masahiko Nishimura, Shigeru Muroi, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Yui Natsukawa, Shozo Hayashiya, and Yu Aoi, Yamada made the admittedly agonizing choice to push production back further after consulting with Shochiku.

The director suggested going ahead with the current script might be “feigning ignorance”, considering the possibility that the hearts and minds of the Japanese people may be changed by the events of 3/11. For that reason, the current plan is to monitor the state of the nation through the end of this year,...

Back in December, it was announced that director Yoji Yamada was working on a contemporary take on Yasujiro Ozu’s 1953 film “Tokyo Story” called Tokyo Kazoku. Earlier today, the cast was revealed by Shochiku.

Bunta Sugawara (77) will star as Shukichi Hirayama and Etsuko Ichihara (75) will play his wife Tomiko. Sugawara has not appeared in a film since “Battery” in 2007 and his last starring role was in 2003’s “Watashi no Grandpa”.

Masahiko Nishimura (50) will play their eldest son Koichi, who works as the administrator of a hospital. Yui Natsukawa (42) will play his wife Fumiko.

Shigeru Muroi (52) will play their eldest daughter Shigeko, who manages a beauty parlor, and Shozo Hayashiya (48) will play her husband Kurazo.

Finally, Satoshi Tsumabuki (30) will play the younger son, with Yu Aoi (25) playing his girlfriend.

Filming wil take place from April 1 to late June, with a theatrical release planned for winter 2011.

Sources: Tokyograph, Eiga.com...

Hard to believe, but popular actress Kyoko Fukada has not had top billing in a film since Mayumi Miyasaka’s “Tenshi”, which was released over 4 years ago. Today comes word that Fukada will be making her return to leading lady status the hard way in Renai Gikyoku: Watashi to Koi ni Ochite Kudasai (literally “Love Drama: Please Fall in Love with Me”), playing a role consisting of 3 distinct parts.

The film is an adaptation of playwright Shoji Kokami‘s hit stage play “Renai Gikyoku”, and Kokami himself will direct. Fukuda will play a popular television screenwriter named Mayumi Taniyama and actor Kippei Shiina will play a hapless producer named Mukai in his first purely comedic role.

Taniyama is suffering from writer’s block, so when Mukai enthusiastically asks her to write a script for him, she asks him to fall in love with her.

Fukada’s role is broken down...